Undergarment



R. H. HARRELL.

UNDERGARMENT.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 1, 1920.

1,370,s1 2. Patented Mar. 8, 1921.

ROSE HARRIS EAR-BELL, OF KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI.

UNDERGAEMENT,

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 8, 1921.

Application filed. June 1, 1920. Serial No. 385,413.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, Rose HARRIS HAR- RELL, a citizen of the United States, and resident of Kansas City, in the county of Jackson and State of Missouri, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Undergarments, of which the following is a complete specification.

This invention relates to undergarments for women and misses, and more especially to that type of garment known as teddybears, and the object of the invention is to produce a garment of the character mentioned, which is thoroughly sanitary and at the same time, comfortable to the wearer.

It is well known that at certain times and frequently during hot weather women wear what are known as sanitary aprons of rubber or analogous material, such aprons hanging at the back between the teddybear or other inner garments, and the petticoat or outer skirt, the upper edge of the apron being attached to a tape or the like fastened around the waist, and the lower part of the apron to the hose supporters, to retain the apron in proper pOSltlOIL These aprons are objectionable not only because they are not fully protective from a sanitary standpoint, but also because they are uncomfortable to the wearer.

The invention more s ecifically consists in providing what may e termed the seat portion of the teddy-bear garment, with a pocket and detachably securing in said pocket a sheet of thin rubber or analogous material impervious to moisture, the arrangement being such that the apron can be readily removed so that it and the garment may be separately washed or otherwise cleansed when necessary. The invention also conists in the special method of securing the pocket in place and of securing the lower end of the pocket portion to the lower end of the front portion of the body of the garment. Some special means is necessary because such garments are frequently of silk or other delicate material, and unless reinforced, would not long withstand the strain imposed by the pocket and sheet although the latter should be as light and flexible as practicable.

It will be apparent that the provision of the teddy-bear or like garment with a pocket containing a removable sheet of thin flexible material nnpervious to moisture, will subserve all of the purposes of the sanitary apron and accomplish such purposes in a more sanitary and efficient manner, as the construction contemplated and above outllned Wlll not impose undue pressure upon the wearer at any point when either in sitwhich can be readily and economically cleaned or washed, the invention consists in certain novel and useful features of construction and combinations of parts as here inafter described and claimed; and in order that it may be fully understood reference 1s to be had to the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure l is a front View of a garment embodying the invention, the view showing the front portion of the garment detached at its lower end from the corresponding end of the rear portion and also showing the former and the pocket attached to the rear portion broken away.

Fig. 2 is a central vertical section of the garment in operative condition.

Fig. 3 is an inner face view of the central lower portion of the back of-the garment, with the protective sheet partly withdrawn from the pocket. 1

Fig. 4- is a fragmentary central vertica section through the back of the garment. the pocket thereof, and the detachable sheet, the pocket being shown in open position.

F ig. 5 is an enlarged central vertical section to show more clearly the connection between the lower end of the back portion of the garment and the lower end of the front portion of the garment.

In the said drawing, 1 indicates the portion of the garment above the waist line 2, and equipped with shoulder straps by which the garment is suspended when in place upon the wearer. The particular construction of the upper part of the garment however is unimportant and may be changed without affecting the invention.

The front portion of the garment as indicated at 4, and the rear portion of the garment as indicated at 5 are of standard or any improved contour, it being noted that the rear portion tapers downward to a' blunt point as at 6 and that from one side margin of said lower end to the other side margin, the front and rear portions are not connected together, so that the garment when unfastened shall be wholly open at the lower end. The lower end portion 6 is preferably reinforced,lespecially when the garment is of fragilei material such as silk, and such end is provided with one or more fastening elements or-buttons 7 Centrally of the lower end of the front portion 4, there is provided a tab 8, and said tab is provided with compani'omfastening devices 9. The fastening" device or devices maybe in the form of buttonsand button holes, or may be in the form of detachable clasps such. as are employed forthe fastenings of gloves, or any other approved form of fastening devices may be employed, it being understood that the tab 8 is provided so as to distribute the strain on the material of the garment itself and thus avoid 'any possibility of the latter being easily torn when drawn taut in the fastening or unfastening operation, it being understood that when the portions mentioned are fastened together the rear portion is drawn forward between the. legs of the wearer and when fastened to the tab 8 there are formed at opposite sides of the fastening points, openings sufliciently large for free leg action, as customary in this type of garment.

The seat portion of the garment is provided internally by preference, as shown, with a pocket 10 which extends from a point a suitable distance below the waist line, to the lower extremity of the back portion of the garment, the pockets being of sufficient width or area to fully cover that portion of the garment and of the outer garment which, when the wearer is seated, is pressed uponthe chair or other support.

In its preferred form thepocket is of greatest width at the points where the side margins thereof intersect the downwardly converging edges of the back portion 5, and from said points of intersection, the sides of the pocket convergeupwardly at a slight angle and downwardly in conformation with the edges of the portion 5 to the tab 6. The upper end of the pocket is open and is fastened to a substantially horizontal reinforcing strip or .tape 10 of length by preferencem extend from one side of the garment to the opposite side so that the strain imposed on the material of the garment by the pocket and by the sheet hereinafter mentioned, shall be widely distributed and thus not readily cause the garment to tear. The reinforce strip or tape 10 is preferably equipped with button members 11, and the upper edge of the pocket with socket members 12 for engagement with said button members, the engagement of the corresponding buttons and sockets closing the mouth of'the pocket. Of course any other suitable fastening devices may be employed. To protect the garment and other garments of the wearer, a protective sheet 13 of thin flexible rubber or. equivalent moisture proof material, is fitted in the pocket, being shaped to snugly fill the pocket and thus correspond substantially in area with the same, and to prevent this sheet from sagging within the pocket and bunching and making it uncomfortable to the wearer, the said sheet is provided along its upper edge with holes 14, for the accommodation of the fastening devices 11 and 12. The sheet is thus suspended from said'fastening devices and is thus retained in spread-out condition so as to give the most eiiicient service and inconvenience the wearer to the minimum degree.

I From the above description it will be apparent that I have produced an undergarment possessing the features of advantage set forth as desirable in the statement of the object of the invention, and which is susceptible of modification in minor particulars without departing from the principle of construction involved or departing from the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. An undergarment having a front portion and a rear portion adapted at the center of its lower end, to be drawn forward and fastened to the central part of the lower end of the front portion; the lower central part of the back portion having a pocket, and a thin flexible waterproof sheet within said pocket and means for fastening the mouth of the pocket and the upper edge of the sheet to the rear portion of the garment.

2. An undergarment of the teddy-bear type having means for fastening together the central part of the lower end of the front and back of the garment; the back portion having a pocket covering the seat portion of the garment and of increasing width to the lower end thereof, a water proof sheet fitting in and conforming to the contour of the pocket and provided with openings at its upper edge, fastening means to close the mouth of the pocket and engage through said openings in the sheet to retain the same in spread out condition in the pocket.

3. An undergarment open at its lower end with the back portion of greater length than the front portion and tapering downwardly to a point, the front portion having a tab fastened to its lower central portion. and said portion and the corresponding end of the back portion having fastening devices for securing them together, a reinforce stripsecured across the back portion,a pocket and a waterproof sheet conforming to and secured to the inner side of the back porfitting snugly in the pocket and provided tion centrally thereof and extending from with openings to accommodate the said fas- 10 and secured to said reinforce strip down to tening devices of the pocket.

5 the lower tapering end of said back por- In testimony whereof I'hercunto afiix my tion, fastening devices along the upper edge signature.

of the pocket for closing the mouth thereof, ROSE HARRIS HARRELL. 

